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Compton Castle

📍 Devon, England

4.1 ★★★★ 780 reviews

About

Compton Castle in the parish of Marldon in Devon, is a fortified manor house in the village of Compton, about 5 miles (8 km) west of Torquay on the southern coast of Devon, England. The estate was home to the families of Compton, de la Pole, Doddiscombe, Gilbert and Templer. The castle has been home to the Gilbert family for most of the time since it was built. Listed as a Grade 1 set of buildings, it has been a National Trust property since 1951.

Seat of Sir Maurice de la Pole in the reign of Henry II (1154-1189). The original manor was built in the mid-14th century. The fortress-like front was added around 1520 by John Gilbert. Most famous inhabitant was Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1539-1583), coloniser of Newfoundland and half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh. The central hall fell to ruins by the 18th century but was faithfully reconstructed in the 1950s. National Trust since 1951.